Restructure planning continuing

  • Published
  • By Patty Welsh
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
As preparation for the inactivations of Electronic Systems Center, Air Armaments Center, Aeronautical Systems Center and Air Force Security Assistance Center and activation of the new Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) continues, the transition teams are planning to ensure critical structures, functions and processes will be in place.

"As the Air Force Materiel Command five-center restructure evolves, the command will move from its current planning phase to a transition phase in early summer," said Larry Coe, ESC LCMC lead. "We want to ensure ESC is ready."

Some of the proposed AFLCMC organizational structures were recently discussed at an Electronic Systems Center Staff Call.

The changes principally involve the functional staff offices. The proposed new AFLCMC construct now includes both functional offices and execution directorates at AFLCMC headquarters that comprise activities that were solely under the purview of existing center functionals. At geographically separated units (GSUs) like Hanscom, the result is the creation of functional office Operating Locations (OLs) and execution directorate Satellite Offices (SOs).

"An OL will typically be responsible for staff duties such as functional management, to include human resource management - the OTE [organize, train and equip] for a functional area," said Coe. "The SO's will provide execution activities that directly support programs - on-site mission support. It's an attempt at further refining the tooth versus tail work of our support organizations."

The anticipated plans are to have both OLs and SOs for Acquisition, Contracting, Engineering, and Finance.  Offices with just functional operating locations will be Small Business, Personnel, and System Safety. Offices that will consist of solely execution satellite offices will be Intel, Foreign Military Sales and one that replaces the current Capabilities Integration (XR).

"An example of where functions would be broken out is AQ," said Coe. "Their work as the Acquisition Center of Excellence would fall to the SO, while personnel-type activities in program management, logistics and test would fall within the OL."

The Intel Directorate is a new execution office that has been created within the AFLCMC headquarters configuration. Foreign Military Sales, previously managed within the Plans and Programs offices (XP), fall within a new Air Force Security Assistance Cooperation Directorate and its satellite offices. The Plans and Programs offices at the GSUs are being abolished.

For the functions that will have both a satellite office and an operating location at Hanscom, the lead will be dual-hatted. The same situation will exist at center headquarters, with one person in charge of both the functional office and the corresponding execution directorate.

"As part of the plan for stand-up of AFLCMC to occur this summer, before the 1 October initial operational capability, we are making sure that existing frameworks for personnel, contracting and financial management operations remain in place through the new fiscal year to ensure the mission will be able to continue without interruption," said Coe.

A number of offices that previously reported directly to the ESC commander will now be attached to the 66th Air Base Group. The Equal Opportunity, History, Judge Advocate General, Protocol offices and the Band of Liberty will now fall under 66 ABG.  The 66 ABG will be reassigned to the LCMC commander.

A Hanscom detachment to provide unit support-type functions that will report directly to AFLCMC headquarters is also planned.

"We are still working out the manpower and functions that will be included as part of this detachment," said Coe. "However, we believe it will incorporate the critical tasks currently being done by the CSH, with some mutual assistance from the other Hanscom organizations."

In the Personnel area, activities will be split between the 66th Force Support Squadron under the 66 ABG and the DP OL reporting to AFLCMC/DP. The details associated with the roles and responsibilities are also still being worked out.

"While we are waiting for approval of the organizational change request and congressional requirements to be met, we've been documenting these decisions in the Implementation Plan to guide us through the details of the Five-Center standup," Coe said.

Although not directly related to the AFLCMC stand-up, and as mentioned in previous articles and briefings, the current programs under the Battle Management and Theater Command and Control Organizations will combine into one directorate, planned to be called "Battle Management," and still led by a Senior Executive Service civilian program executive officer. The C3I&N Directorate will remain; however, the new PEO is slated to be a two-star general.